A pergunta clássica: isto ainda é rádio ou uma jukebox?

O editor do site Audiographics esteve a ouvir um dos canais HD2 dos EUA e saiu desiludido, uma vez que é apenas um computador pré-programado e muitos jingles a promover a estação:

«Since Saturday, 6/17, I've been streaming WSMJ-HD2 through its online link. That it is solid music won't be challenged here. Though I will challenge calling it "radio."

Here's what I've uncovered about Clear Channel's WSMJ-HD2. It has just 18 liners positioned [frases promocionais] between every other song, except at the top and bottom of the hour when, sometimes, you'll hear three songs in a row. These are the positioning statements they use:

The artists that gave birth to the cool - played 24/7 on Jazzville, 104.3 HD2
Jazz - America's own music, Jazzville, 104.3 HD2
When you hear music, after it's over, it's gone, you can never capture
it again - Jazzville 104.3 HD2 (...)

When the above play through, they repeat. That's enough said about the programming of this new, exciting, HD2 radio station.

You decide if this is "radio," or some variation of jukebox music. Then, ask why a person would spend money to buy a new receiver to listen to what's offered. Not being a jazz aficionado, I won't comment on the music other than to say the playlist was repeated. But, so what? Songs have to repeat, eventually» (http://www.audiographics.com/agd/061906-1.htm)

Mark Ramsey desenvolve, sem chegar a uma conclusão:

«It's an interesting point, and it's central to our HD radio plans (not to mention the plans for Internet radio and, dare I say it, good old-fashioned terrestrial radio).

When you take out (or never put in) the personality, when you lack the voices that connect us to the music and each other, when there is no promotion, no news, no traffic, no weather, no contesting, no feeling that what you're hearing is in any sense "live" or, for that matter even "living,"...

...is that really "radio"?

Is that what we want "radio" to be?

Is that what the audience comes to us for?» (http://www.hear2.com/2006/06/what_is_radio_a.html)

(via NetFM)